A mathematical model for simulating the dynamic behaviors of batch phenol biodegradation processes in internal loop airlift bioreactor (ILAB) with gas recirculation using free cells of the yeast Candida tropicalis was established by coupling the fluid dynamic model and the mass balance model. Based on the coupling arithmetic, the program for evaluating batch phenol biodegradation processes was achieved. The predicted results of linear liquid velocities, gas holdups, linear gas velocities, cell and phenol concentration profiles in the riser and the downcomer of the ILAB with gas recirculation agreed very well with the corresponding experimental data, and the applicability and reliability of this proposed model were validated. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.